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Hilary Benn’s powerful speech in favour of Government plans to bomb ISIL in Syria has divided opinion across Merseyside as well as Labour’s shadow cabinet.

MPs staged a marathon 10 hour debate on whether the UK should join air strikes in the country torn apart by civil war before backing the Government plans.

Among the speeches to attract most attention was by shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn – in opposition to his own party leader Jeremy Corbyn who called on MPs to reject the military option proposed by the Prime Minister.

Labour councillor Paul Brant retweeted links to the speech

But fellow Liverpool councillor Daniel Hughes tweeted back that he was “not sure applause was appropriate given the circumstances”.

Cllr Hughes also retweeted a link to the Mirror editorial suggesting that although Prime Minister David Cameron “got his way he may live to regret it” in which the effectiveness of air strikes were questioned.

Labour’s shadow cabinet was also divided on the Syria vote, with a majority 11 voting for action, 16 against, and one absention.

Former Liverpool Militant leader Tony Mulhearn today accused Hilary Benn of “flag-waving jingoism” and added: “He implied that opposition to military action constituted less than total opposition to the monstrosity of Isis.”